Expansion chamber for refrigerating apparatus



Oct? 1931- c. F. GARDNER 7,

EXPANSION CHAMBER FOR REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed July 22, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l A TTORNE Y6 Oct. 20, 1931. i c. F. GARDNER 1,827,741

EXPANSION CHAMBER FOR REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Ori inal Filed July 22, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \l WU "i" 1M 1 1 N F; W

m VENTOR Patented 20, 1931 I CHARLES I. GARDNER, OF NEW GARLISLE,

PATENT OFFICE onro, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO FBIGIDAIBE CORPORATION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE EXPANSION CHAMBER FOR REFRiGERATING APPARATUS Application'flled July, 1925, Serial No. 45,395.

This invention relates to improvements in refrigerating apparatus and particularly to an improved expansion chamber for such apparatus. I

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an expansion chamber constructed in sections so that the capacity of the chamber may be readily increased by adding an additional section or sections whereby the capacity. of the expansion chamber may be in proper proportion to the s ace to be cooled; a further and more specific object in this connection being to provide a sectional expansion chamber, in which one of the sections only is arranged to carry the usual controlling devices for the refrigerant, to which section may be connected one or more additional sections as needed, with the chambers ofhthe sections in communication with each ot er.

vide an expansion chamber of simple form which will furnish a maximum amount of heat absorbing surface without the employment of fins or other heat absorbing aids, and also a chamber in which the refrigerant may be-in direct contact with the walls which form the heat absorbing surface of the chamber.

Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved expansion chamber.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line a s of Fig. 2.

"expansion chamber in connection with fins arranged on the outer walls of the chamber A further object of the invention is to pro- Renewed January 20, 1928.

to provide suflicient heat absorbing surface, such an expansion'chamber being efiicient for cooling and ice making but being of an /expensive construction due to the fins. 7 Another disadvantage of this type of expansion chamber is that the heat absorbing surfaces are too remote from the refrigerant to secure the best results. A' further objection to the latterarrangement is that it is necessary either to make these expansion chambers of difi'erent sizes for cooling boxes of different capacity or to install in the boxes of larger capacity two or more of such chambers, each equipped with its individual regulating devices, all of which results in an expensive equipment. In order to overcome these disadvantages and' to provide an expansion chamber which is not only efficient for cooling and ice making, but in which the capacity may be readily increased in an inexpensive manner to suit the size'of the refrigerating box in which the apparatus is to be installed, and also to bring the heat absorbing surfaces in more intimate relation with the refrigerant, the following arrangement has been devised:

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an expansion chamber constructed of three sections 1, 2 and 3 although itwill be understood that the number of sections may be increased or diminished to suit conditions. Each section is cast to provide an inner open space 4 surrounded by the walls of a chamber 8, the walls being only of a thickness consistent with proper strength and of a uniform character throughout. These open spaces receive a box 6 open atits forward end in which may be placed trays 5 to receive commodities to be frozen, a suitable removable cover 7 beingprovided at the front of the chamber thus formed. Eachsection constitutes an independent expansion chamber, the walls of which are provided with aligned threaded openings 9 to receive cou lings so that the respective chambers may e connected both at the top and bottom. To connect the sections,there is shown an ordinarystandard reversely threaded coupling 10, but any other suitable form of connection may be employed so long as it is of a charactor to leave the sections in spaced apart relation. The openings 9 of the rearmost sec- -tion are closed by plugs 11 and the front wall of the section 1 has a sand opening closed by a plug 11.

. One of the sections only is equipped with controlling devices for the refrigerant, this section being the one indicated by the reference character 1. To this section 1 the incoming line 12 from the condenser is connected at the pointindicated by 13 and the outgoing return line (not shown) leading to the compressor is connected at the point indicated at 14. A needle valve'15 controls the inlet 13, this needle valve being supported 3, may be readily added. The chambers 8 of the respective sections being all connected together form in effect a single expansion chamber which may be controlled by the valve mechanism located in the section 1.

' Further, it will be seen that due to the spaced-apart arrangement of the sections the front and rear walls of each section as well as the top and bottom walls are all exposed to the air of the refrigerating box and that the refrigerant in the chambers is in direct contact with these walls which arrangement furnishes an adequate heat absorbing sur face without the addition of fins or other heat absorbing aids.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim the refrigerant, the upper portion of said chamber being of sufficient area to receive float-operated valve mechanism for controlling said passage, and float-operated valve mechanism located in said portion of said chamber, said section having means for readily connecting therewith another section similar thereto with respect to the open space and the surrounding chamber, with the chambers in communication, whereby the capacity of said element may be increased.

2. An expansion element forrefrigerating apparatus having a section formed with a central open space and a continuous chamber spect to the open space and the surrounding chamber, the connection forming communications between said chambers, whereby the capacity of said element may be increased.

3. An expansion element for refrigerating apparatus having a section formed with an open space and a continuous chamber about said space, said chamber constituting a receptacle for the refrigerant and having apassage leading thereto for the entrance of the refrigerant, the upper portion of said chamber being of suflicient area to receive float-operated valve mechanism for controlling said passage, and float-operated valve mechanism located in said portion of said chamber, the thickness of the outer walls of said chamber being of a uniform character and sufficient only to give required strength, said section having means for readily connecting therewith in spaced apart relation thereto another section similar thereto with respect to the open space, the surrounding chamber and thickness of the Walls, said connections forming communications between the chambers of the respective sections, whereby the capacity of said element may be increased.

4. An expansion element for refrigerating apparatus having a section formed with an open space and a continuous chamber about said space, said chamber constituting a receptacle for the refrigerant, the upper portion of said chamber being of sufiicient area to receive float-operated valve mechanism and having an opening large enough to permit the insertion of said mechanism, a cap for closing said opening having a passage for the entrance of the refrigerant, float-operated valve mechanism carried on the inner side of said cap, said section having means for readily connecting therewith another section similar thereto with respect to the open space and the surrounding chamber, with the chambers in communication, whereby the capacity of said element may be increased merely by the addition of another section devoid of valve mechanism.

' 5. A refrigerating unit for refrigerating machines, comprising a plurality of hollow 'sections connected to contain a refrigerant,

said sections having aligned openings forming the chilling compartment of the unit, said unit having refrigerant inlet and outlet openings above said chilling compartment, and

'cated in one of said sections for controlling the supply of refrigerant to the sections, the latter being formed to provide a chilling compartment for the unit, said unit having a refrigerant outlet opening above the normal liquid level established by said floatvalve. b

7. An expansion element for refrigerating apparatus consisting of a plurality of sections, each having a chamber, means for connecting saidsections together with the chambers of the sections in communication with each other, each section forming the boundary of an open space, with all the open spaces aligned to form a chilling compartment, means for admitting refrigerant to the chambers of said sections, an outlet for the refrigerant located above the maximum liquid level thereof and valve means for fixing the level of the refrigerant in the connected 1 sections.

8. An'expansion element for refrigerating apparatus consisting of a plurality of sections connected together, each having a chamber, with the c ambers in communication, each section forming the boundary of an open space, with all the open spaces aligned to form a chilling compartment, means for admitting refrigerant to said chambers, an

- outlet for the refrigerant located above the maximum liquid level of said refrigerant and a float valve for fixing the level of the refrigerant in the connected sections.

9. An expansion element for refrigerating apparatus consisting of a plurality of sections connected together, each having a chamber, said chambers bein in communication, each section forming the iioundary of an open space, with all the open spaces aligned to form a chilling compartment, means for admitting refrigerant to said chambers and controlling its level therein, and an outlet -'for the refrigerant located above the maximum liquid level of said refrigerant, said admission means and outlet being located on the same section.

10. An expansion element for refrigerating apparatus consisting of a plurality of connected sections each having a chamber, with the chambers in communication with eachother, each section forming the boundary of an open space, with all the open spaces ahgned'to form a chilling compartment, an inlet associatedwith said element for supplyof said sections,

ing unexpanded refrigerant thereto, valve means associated with said inlet for automatically controlling the supply of refrigerant to the expansion element, and a suction outlet for said chambers associated with said element, and arranged to permit the passage of expandedrefrigerant therefrom.

11. An expansion element for refrigerating apparatus consisting of a plurality of connected sections each having a chamber, with the chambers in communication with each other, each section forming the boundary of 'an open space, with all the open spaces aligned to form a chilling compartment, a supply inlet associated with one of said sections to supply unexpanded refrigerant to the chamber thereof, valve means associated with said inlet for automatically controlling the supply of refrigerant to the expansion element, and a suction outlet associated with the same secton and in communication with the chamber thereof,-and arranged to permit the passage of expanded refrigerant therefrom. K

12. A refrigerating unit for refrigerating machines, comprising a plurality of hollow sections connected together to contain a refrigerant, said sections having alined openings forming the chilling compartment of the unit, said unit having refrigerant inlet and outlet openings, and a valve for controlling the supply of refrigerant to the sections through said inlet opening, the refrigerant outlet opening being above the normal liquid sections, and a suction outlet for said cham-- bers arranged to frigerant in element.

14. An expansion and refrigerant control element for refrigerating apparatus consisting of a plurality of sections cooperating together to form the boundary of a tube-like ch1ll1ng compartment, said sections having re rigerant-receiving chambers therein, means for connecting said sections together with said refrigerant-receiving chambers in communication with each other, means for admittmg liquid refrigerant to the chambers valve means for controlling the llquid level of refrigerant within said element, and a suction outlet arranged to perpermit the discharge of regaseous form only from said mit the discharge of' refrigerant in gaseous form only from said element.

15. An expansion and refrigerant control element for refrigerating apparatus consisting of a plurality of sections cooperating together to form the boundary of a tube-like chilling compartment, said sections having refrigerant-receiving chambers therein, means for connecting said sections together with said refrigerant-receiving chambers in communication with each other, and means arranged to admit volatile refrigerant in liquid form to the chambers of said sections and to permit the discharge of said refrigerant in gaseous form only from said element.

16. In a mechanical refrigerating apparatus of the compressor-condenser-fioodedexpander type, an expansion unit comprising a plurality of hollow sections for liquid refrigerant, the interiors of said sections being connected in operative communication, one of said sections having a liquid refrigerant inlet, control valve means operatively positioned Within said section for controlling the flow of liquid refrigerant to said expansion unit, and a suction outlet for said sections arranged to permit the discharge of refrigerant in gaseous-form only from said unit. I

17. In a mechanical refrigerating apparatus of the compressor-condenser-floodedexpander type,'an expansion unit comprising a plurality of hollow sections for liquid refrigerant, the interiors of said sections being connected in operative communication, one of said sections having a liquid refrigerant inlet, control valve means operatively positioned Within said section, a float within the unit cooperating with said control valve means for preventing liquid refrigerant from rising above a certain level in said expansion unit, and a suction outlet for said sections arranged to permit the discharge of refrigerant in gaseous form only from said unit.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of July, 1925.

CHARLES F. GARDNER. 

